In a recent study published in the journal Vaccine, researchers investigated the potential non-specific benefits of administering the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine to children under two years old, particularly in reducing antibiotic treatments for non-specific infections. The study, conducted across Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, found that administering the MMR vaccine following three doses of diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine was more effective in lowering antibiotic treatment rates compared to just the DTaP vaccine.
The MMR vaccine, a live vaccine containing attenuated forms of the viruses causing measles, mumps, and rubella, is typically given to children as early as nine months old. Studies from high-income countries have indicated that the MMR vaccine may offer protective effects against infections beyond those it directly targets. These effects have been associated with a decrease in hospitalizations due to non-targeted diseases.
However, most studies have focused on severe infections requiring hospitalization, leaving a gap in understanding the vaccine’s impact on common childhood infections treated outside hospital settings. Lowering unnecessary antibiotic use is crucial in combating antibiotic resistance, making it vital to explore the MMR vaccine’s efficacy in reducing antibiotic treatments for non-severe infections.
Utilizing data from nationwide registries in the Nordic countries, Gehrt and colleagues analyzed vaccination and antibiotic treatment records of children up to two years old. The study followed children from the recommended age for MMR vaccination to two years old, with vaccination status being treated as a time-varying approach. The study results showed a 11% average reduction in antibiotic treatment rates across the four countries when the MMR vaccine was administered after the third DTaP vaccine dose. Notably, Norway showed the highest reduction at 16%, followed by Sweden with 13%, and Finland and Denmark with 8%.
The researchers discussed the possible ways in which the MMR vaccine could protect against non-severe infections. They believe that the consistent exposure of the innate immune system to live viruses leads to long-term reprogramming of functional immunity, which then triggers immune responses against other antigens or stimuli.
The study underscores the potential of administering the MMR vaccine to children under two years old, following their third DTaP vaccine dose, in reducing antibiotic use by guarding against minor infections. Interestingly, similar trends were observed in children who had received only three doses of the DTaP vaccine. This highlights the need for additional research to delve deeper into the broader immunological effects of MMR vaccines, offering insights into their impact beyond their primary targets and contributing to the advancement of pediatric vaccination strategies.
Reference
Gehrt L, Englund H, Laake I, Nieminen H, Möller S, Feiring B, et al. Is vaccination against measles, mumps, and rubella associated with reduced rates of antibiotic treatments among children below the age of 2 years? Nationwide register-based study from Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. Vaccine [Internet]. 2024 Mar 20 [cited 2024 Mar 27].